Our Next Vargas: Amed (not Eddie) Rosario

[imref]

Nationals sign 29 year old IF Amed Rosario to a one-year deal.  Split time last year among Tampa, the Dodgers, and the Reds posting .280 / .306 / .380, 13SBs, 3HRs in 346 PAs.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/rosaram01.shtml

He has played SS, 3B, 2B, and RF over the last few years so it looks like we've got our Vargas replacement.

[nobleisthyname]

Nationals sign 29 year old IF Amed Rosario to a one-year deal.  Split time last year among Tampa, the Dodgers, and the Reds posting .280 / .306 / .380, 13SBs, 3HRs in 346 PAs.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/rosaram01.shtml

He has played SS, 3B, 2B, and RF over the last few years so it looks like we've got our Vargas replacement.

What does this mean for Tena? Starts the year in AAA?

[varoadking]

Nationals sign 29 year old IF Amed Rosario to a one-year deal.  Split time last year among Tampa, the Dodgers, and the Reds posting .280 / .306 / .380, 13SBs, 3HRs in 346 PAs.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/rosaram01.shtml

He has played SS, 3B, 2B, and RF over the last few years so it looks like hopefully we've got our Vargas Abrams replacement.

FIFY

[imref]

What does this mean for Tena? Starts the year in AAA?

I think right now Tena is the everyday 3B and a placeholder for House barring another trade or acquisition.

[nobleisthyname]

Joan Adon DFA'd to make room on the 40-man roster.

[imref]

Joan Adon DFA'd to make room on the 40-man roster.

Will be interesting to see if he clears waivers and takes an assignment to Rochester (on the IL) or if this is the end of the line for him.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Joan Adon DFA'd to make room on the 40-man roster.

already something good coming out of this signing.

I agree Tena will get a long look at 3rd and that Rosario comes in as a plan B in case Tena still can't field the position. Both can be pushed aside if House or Wallace or even Morales look ready. Rosario has been almost exclusively a SS in his career.

As for the bench, I think this kind of kills off Baker, Lipscomb, and Nunez's chances at the start of the year. Figure 1 OF (Call or Garrett), 1 Catcher (Millas or more likely Adams), Rosario (or Tena), and one righty bench bat among Chappy, Yepez, or Garrett.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

While I put the title on the OP regarding our 3rd base prayers, I'm kind of hoping that this isn't the last position piece. Rosario is not good in the field and can't hit much. He really should be a back up. I'm assuming the deal is only for $1 million or so so that he could slide into a back up role if something better falls into our lap.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

https://www.mlb.com/news/amed-rosario-nationals-contract

1 year, $2 million.

[nobleisthyname]

He's the Vargas replacement but I'm not actually sure if he's better than Vargas. Maybe a bit better with the bat but seems to be significantly worse with the glove.

[Slateman]

Vargas replacement for sure.

Again, this would be fine ... if we had made the appropriate big moves as well.

[aspenbubba]

I agree Tena will get a long look at 3rd and that Rosario comes in as a plan B in case Tena still can't field the position. Both can be pushed aside if House or Wallace or even Morales look ready. Rosario has been almost exclusively a SS in his career.

 

As I have said previously, I don't believe we will see House until a September call up IF THEN. Wallace and Morales possibly in 2026 for a look see.  I have been guilty of this also as I have projected MLB promotions based upon the draft position and not how they perform in the minors.

[imref]

Zuck:

Rosario appears poised to take over the utility role previously held by Ildemaro Vargas, who was cut loose in November after 2 1/2 seasons in D.C. Rosario is four years younger than Vargas, with better offensive numbers but less defensive prowess.

The addition of Rosario could quash any realistic possibility of Nasim Nuñez making the Nationals’ Opening Day roster. The Rule 5 draftee impressed in the field and made strides at the plate late during his rookie season, but he’s now free to be optioned to Triple-A without risk of being lost to another organization. The club likely wants him to get more regular playing time, starting at shortstop for Rochester and available for a promotion if anything happens with CJ Abrams.

Less clear is how Rosario’s acquisition impacts José Tena. The 23-year-old rookie finished the season as the Nationals’ starting third baseman, and he could retain that role entering 2025, at least until top prospect Brady House is deemed ready to debut. Tena, though, was also viewed as a potential utility infielder who is better defensively at second base and shortstop than third base, but the addition of Rosario would seem to block him from holding that role.

[welch]

Vargas replacement for sure.

Again, this would be fine ... if we had made the appropriate big moves as well.

Yes, need the big acquisition. Bregman would have been perfect as the big FA and long-time 3B. But...

[varoadking]

Zuck:

"...until top prospect Brady House..."

Is he really our #1 Prospect?  Lord help us if he is...

[imref]

Is he really our #1 Prospect?  Lord help us if he is...

Technically it's Crews as he hasn't had enough ABs to shed prospect status yet. But among those in the minors, it's Sykora, House, and Susana as 1-2-3.

[Count Walewski]

I don't think of "low-OPS infielder with questionable defense" as a hole on this team, on the contrary the Nationals already have a lot of guys who fit this description, many of whom earn the league minimum or close to it. Why sign one more?

[varoadking]

Technically it's Crews as he hasn't had enough ABs to shed prospect status yet. But among those in the minors, it's Sykora, House, and Susana as 1-2-3.

Any of them thought to get significant paying time in the Bigs in 2025?

[Slateman]

Any of them thought to get significant paying time in the Bigs in 2025?

Syroka and Susanna, no. They are just getting to Double A and they're hard throwing pitchers, so they'll have injuries. House finished inTriple A, so he should make the big league roster this season. Really not much of a reason to keep him in Triple A for very long.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Changed the title since it's clear this guy should be no more than an infield backup. Also, the mere mention of Vargas will prompt a post from Gata on how useless Rosario is.

I think the point about the impact on Tena is spot on. This move, coupled with the Bell signing, seems to rule out Tena as a backup infielder or LH DH at the start of the year. He wins the 3rd base job or he's in the minors.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Syroka and Susanna, no. They are just getting to Double A and they're hard throwing pitchers, so they'll have injuries. House finished inTriple A, so he should make the big league roster this season. Really not much of a reason to keep him in Triple A for very long.

other than he really didn't hit well at AA or AAA last year.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/01/08/amed-rosario-nationals-contract/

Golden on the signing

[imref]

I don't think of "low-OPS infielder with questionable defense" as a hole on this team, on the contrary the Nationals already have a lot of guys who fit this description, many of whom earn the league minimum or close to it. Why sign one more?

The only other player we have who can play multiple IF and OF positions is Lipscomb, and he can't hit. Rosario at least has shown that he can hit major league pitching even though his defense is below average.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

In fairness, he did start the year well in Tampa Bay last year. Golden points out the big shift in his profile has been the disappearance of power the past couple of seasons. Seems odd because an emphasis this year has been on improving power.

To some extent, this is another busted prospect profile, but at least we aren't counting on him to start like Senzel.

[imref]

Rosario is a fine bench piece, but if we're counting on him as a possible every-day 3B, well that's not a good sign.